Catapang lauds CamSur bus hostage crisis team

General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang, Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, praised yesterday the crisis management team that handled the May 29 bus hostage crisis in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur, which ended peacefully with all 31 passengers unscathed.

A statement from the AFP said Army Col. Amador T. Tabuga Jr., Commander of the 902nd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, Del Gallego Mayor Lydia B. Abarientos, and Mayor Ricardo Aquino of the adjacent municipality of Ragay who all led the crisis management team were to be honored yesterday at Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo for the swift and peaceful resolution of the incident.

The AFP said the crisis started around 10 a.m. when one Army Col. Rene Prajele, clad in full combat gear and armed with an M16 armalite, boarded a Manila-bound Bobis Liner in Barangay Tambo, Camarines Sur.

The soldier later transferred to a Peñafrancia Bus also bound for Manila and took its 30 passengers hostage.

Prajele reportedly ordered the bus driver to go straight to the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

At around 1 p.m., the Peñafrancia bus was blocked at a police checkpoint on the national highway in Barangay Comadaycaday, Del Gallego, Camarines Sur.

Reports said the soldier warned that he will hurt the passengers if the bus will not be allowed to pass through the checkpoint.

Upon being informed of the incident, Tabuga rushed to the scene and joined Abarientos to form a crisis management team. Aquino also came to help negotiate with the soldier-hostage taker. There were also three police negotiators.

Prajele’s six-year-old nephew was also brought in to help convince the soldier to surrender.

“Through Tabuga’s efforts the suspect peacefully surrendered without harming any of the hostages,” said the AFP. The crisis ended around 4:30 p.m. Prajele is now under custody of the police and is due for psychological evaluation and medical assessment. (With a report from Ruel Saldico)